Laced shoe

ABSTRACT

A laced shoe comprising a fastener is presented. The fastener comprises at least one fastening element, configured as an extendable connector which is by its opposite ends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening element, in desirably extended and attached state thereof, properly fits the shoe to individual&#39;s foot.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

The present invention is in the field of laced shoes, in particularsport shoes, and relates to a laced shoe with an improvement providing apersonalized tight fit for the shoe.

Almost all the types of shoes we wear are tie- or no-tie laced shoes,whether it is sport shoes, elegant shoes or any other type of shoes. Themain purpose of the laces is to fit the shoe to the foot of the usermaking it comfortable when in use. It is a trend to avoid the tyingprocess itself as it is associated with such difficulties asperiodically untying/unfastening of the laces, thus requiring to do adouble knot that sometimes tightens the shoe too much to the foot andsometimes looks very unaesthetic.

In the art of sport shoes, it is known to use stretchable laces tothereby eliminate the need of the tying process. The known no-tie lacedshoes utilize elastic laces and a double eyelet lock to replace thetie-lace mechanism at the anterior/front part of the shoe. Both theelastic laces and the lock may be supplied to the user as a separateunit. The elastic laces are usually made of rubber or any other elasticmaterial. The double eyelet lock is in the form of two orifices for theelastic laces to pass therethrough. The double eyelet is configured tolock and fix upon stretching of the laces to thereby fit the anteriorpart of the shoe to the respective part of foot of the user.

Another no-tie technology utilizes a fastening device, which is also aseparate device, which includes a set of fasteners in place of segmentsof conventional laces in spaced-apart relationship along theanterior/front part of the shoe. Such fastener is stretchable and passesthrough holes (similar to those for conventional laces) and its two endsare attachable with one another by clip like mechanism.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

There is a need in the art for a novel approach incustomized/personalized fit and comfort of shoes worn on individual'sfeet. In this connection, it should be understood that the abovedescribed known solutions for no-tie laced shoes are aimed at andconfigured to eliminate the tying process itself while improving theattachment/fitting of the shoe to the anterior part of foot.

The inventor has found that it is important for shoes wearer's comfortand safety, especially in case of sport shoes which are intended for useduring continuous activity, such as walking, running, sport practice,that the shoe is properly fitted to both the anterior part of the footand its posterior part (heel/ankle part).

The present invention provides a fastener configured forelastic/stretchable connection between anterior and posterior parts ofthe shoe, in particular between the lace of the shoe (irrespective ofwhether the lace is of the stretchable type or not) and the externalsurface of the posterior part of the shoe (associated with the anklepart of the shoe) or for elastic connection with a second fastener.

According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a laced shoe comprising a fastener comprising at least onefastening element, configured as an extendable connector which is by itsopposite ends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively,anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe isworn by an individual, said at least one fastening element in desirablyextended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe toindividual's foot.

It should be noted that, for the purposes of the present application,the anterior part of a shoe should be understood/interpreted as a frontportion of a shoe (corresponding to the front of foot) and is typicallythe portion from the tongue to the toe cap. As for the posterior part ofa shoe, this term should be interpreted broadly covering practically theentire portion outside the anterior part, i.e. a back portion of theshoe (corresponding to heel/ankle portion of a foot) and also sideportions of the shoe (e.g. a side portion closer to (or in a vicinityof) the back portion), and is thus typically a shoe portion startingfrom some distance from the tongue and extending towards the heel cap.Accordingly, a region of the shoe at the posterior part thereof, towhich the fastener is attachable, should be interpreted broadly, beingeither a region located at a heel portion of the shoe, or region(s)located in at least one side portion of the shoe at some distance fromthe anterior part.

It should also be understood that a fastening element configured as anextendable connector is an element having at least a portion thereofwhich is extendable.

In some embodiments, said at least one fastening element is by its oneend fixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe,and by its opposite free end is removably attachable to a region in avicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior parts of the shoe.According to some examples, said at least one fastening element is byits one end fixed to or integral with the lace at the anterior part ofthe shoe and by the other opposite end is attachable to the region inthe vicinity of the posterior part of the shoe. In some other examples,said fastener comprises a pair of the fastening elements, bothconfigured as the extendable connectors, each being by its one end fixedto either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, and byits opposite free end being removably attachable to the respectiveregion in the vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior partsof the shoe. In this case, the configuration may be such that each ofthe fastening elements of the pair is by its one end fixed to the laceand by the other opposite end is attachable to the respective region atthe posterior part of the shoe.

The fastening element may be stretchable element thereby forming saidextendable connector. Such fastening element may be configured as aclosed loop stretchable element.

In some embodiments, the laced shoe comprises at least one lock assemblyassociated with the at least one fastening element, respectively. Thelock assembly comprises first and second engageable portions located at,respectively, the region of the shoe and the fastening element. The lockassembly may be of one of the following configurations: (a) the firstand second parts of the lock assembly may a hook-and-loop orloop-and-hook, respectively, removably engageable with one another, e.g.configured as Velcro™ type assembly; (b) the first and second parts ofthe lock assembly may comprise, respectively, a fixed element configuredas a substantially loop-like element (holding element) fixed to the shoeand a Velcro™ portion at said free end of the fastener.

According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is provided alaced shoe comprising a fastener configured as an extendable connectorwhich is attachable by its opposite ends to a lace at an anterior partof the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posterior part of theshoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener ina desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoeto individual's foot.

The laced shoe may comprise a holding element fixed to the shoe at theposterior part of the shoe and configured for engaging with andsupporting the fastening element when in the extended and attached stateof the fastening elements encircling the shoe around the posterior partof the shoe. The holding element may be configured as a hook or loopallowing the fastening element to pass through said holding element whenencircling the shoe.

According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, it provides alaced shoe comprising a fastener having a pair of fastening elements,each of the fastening element being configured as an extendableconnector which is by its one end fixed to a lace at an anterior part ofthe shoe and has its opposite free end, the free ends of the fasteningelements of the pair comprising, respectively, first and second parts ofan engageable assembly, such that when the shoe is worn by anindividual, the fastening elements are brought to their extended stateswhile extending along opposite sides of the shoe towards a posteriorpart of the shoe to enable engagement of the first and second parts ofthe engageable assembly, thereof properly fitting the shoe toindividual's foot.

The engageable assembly may be of one of the following configurations:(i) the first and second parts of the engageable assembly may be firstand second parts of a clip; (ii) the first and second parts of theengageable assembly may be first and second parts of a knob; (iii) thefirst and second parts of the engageable assembly may be first andsecond parts of a hook-and-loop assembly.

As indicated above, the laced shoe may further comprise a pair of fixedelements fixed to the shoe at opposite side portions thereof andconfigured for supporting the fastening elements, respectively when inthe extended states of the fastening elements. Each of the fixedelements may be configured as a hook or loop allowing the respectivefastening element to pass through said holding element when in theextended state thereof.

The invention in its yet further broad aspect provides a fastener foruse with a laced shoe, the fastener comprising at least one fasteningelement, the fastening element being configured as a stretchable elementwhich is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of theshoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, suchthat when the shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fasteningelement in desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fitsthe shoe to individual's foot.

The fastener may comprise a pair of the fastening elements, each beingconfigured as the stretchable element which is by its opposite endsremovably attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anteriorand posterior parts of the shoe, such that the fastening elements in thestretched states extend along opposite side portions of the shoe towardsrespective regions in a vicinity of the posterior parts of the shoe.

The fastening element may be configured as a closed loop stretchableelement.

The fastening element may comprise first and second lock elements atopposite ends of the fastening element, respectively, each of said firstand second lock elements being configured for engaging with first andsecond locks located at regions on anterior and posterior parts of theshoe, respectively for removably engaging with said first and secondlocks. Each of the first and second locking elements may be of one ofthe following configurations: comprises a hook for engaging with a looplock at the shoe; comprises a loop for engaging with a hook lock at theshoe; comprises a first part of a knob like locking assembly forengaging with the lock at the shoe being configured as a second part ofthe knob assembly; comprises a Velcro portion for self-closing around aloop lock at the shoe, forming together a hook-and-loop Velcro typeassembly; comprises a Velcro portion for engagement with a matchingVelcro lock on the shoe.

According to yet further aspect, the invention provides a fastenerconfigured as an extendable connector which is configured with first andsecond lock elements at its opposite ends for removably engaging withfirst and second locks, respectively at an anterior part of the shoewhile encircling the shoe around a posterior part of the shoe, such thatwhen the shoe is worn by an individual, said fastener in a desirablyextended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoe toindividual's foot.

The invention also provides a kit comprising a laced shoe and one ormore fasteners. The laced shoe comprises at least first and second lockslocated at either one or both of anterior or posterior parts of theshoe, and the fastener is configured as described above, and comprisesfirst and second lock elements configured for removable engagement withthe first and second locks of the shoe, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosedherein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice,embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two examples, respectively of laced shoes withfasteners configured according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D more specifically illustrate various examples of thefasteners; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of using a single extendable fastener;

FIG. 5 exemplifies a kit of the invention including a pair of sportshoes with sets of fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a sport shoe (constituting a generallaced shoe) according to the present invention is shown. A typical lacedshoe 10 is shown having a lace 14 on an anterior part 12A of the shoebody and being further equipped/provided with a fastener 16 formed byone or more fastening elements, one such fastening element 19 being seenin the figure. The fastening element 19 is configured as an extendableconnector which has opposite ends 19B and 19A attachable to regions ofthe shoe 10 at, respectively, the anterior part 12A of the shoe and anposterior part 12B of the shoe. In this manner, when the shoe 10 is wornby an individual and the fastener 16 (at least one fastening elementthereof) is in a desirably extended and attached state thereof, the shoe10 properly fits to individual's foot.

It should be understood that, although only one fastening element 19 isseen in the figure, in this specific not limiting example, the fastener16 includes a pair of fastening elements located at opposite side regionof the posterior part 12B of the shoe. Each one of fastening elements isconfigured as an extendable connector as described above.

It should be noted, as well as described above, that for the purposes ofthe present application, the anterior part 12A of a shoe should beunderstood as a front portion of a shoe (corresponding to the front offoot) and is typically the portion from the tongue to the toe cap. Asfor the posterior part 12B of a shoe, it should be understood that forthe purposes of the present application, this portion should beinterpreted broadly covering a back portion of the shoe (correspondingto heel/ankle portion of a foot) and also side portions of the shoe, atsome distance from anterior or closer to (or in a vicinity of) the backportion. Considering a laced shoe, the posterior part of such shoe is ashoe portion starting from some distance from the first eyelet, e.g. theupper eyelet which is closer to the tongue-part, and extending to theheel cap.

As described above, the fastening element 19 is configured as anextendable connector, namely the fastening element 19 is extendable andcontractible (like a rubber). The extendable connector is configured tobe in its extended state upon being pulled to attach to the respectiveregion of the shoe and is configured to be in its contracted state whenreleased or at a default loose state thereof. Such extendable connectormay be made of any known stretchable/elastic material which enables theconnector to extend from a region on the anterior part 12A of the shoe10 to a region on the posterior part 12B of the shoe or vice versa.

In this example, the extendable connector is connectable or permanentlyconnected (e.g. fixed) by a first end 19B to a lace 14 on the anteriorpart 12A of the shoe and by its second opposite end 19A can removablyconnect to a region on the posterior part 12B of the shoe 10. Forexample, the first end of fastening element may be integral with thelace, i.e. the fastening element is an extension of the lace.

The engagement between the end portion 19A of the fastening element andthe portion of the shoe may be using the known Velcro™ type engagement.This may be suitable for shoes made of fabrics.

In some embodiments, the shoe may be provided with at least one lockassembly configured to provide engagement with the fastening element,e.g. with corresponding lock element(s) at the fastening element. Asindicated above, the first end of the fastening element may be fixedto/integral with the lace. In this case, the lock assembly is associatedonly with the opposite end of the fastening element, i.e. is located atthe region of the posterior part of the shoe.

Generally speaking, in some embodiments, the lock assembly of the shoemay be associated with of the first and second ends of each fasteningelement, i.e. one of the first and second ends of the fastening elementis fixed to one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, whilethe opposite end of the fastening element is removably attachable to theother end of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe by engagementwith the lock assembly of the shoe. In some other embodiments, the lockassembly of the shoe is associated with both the first and second endsof each fastening element, i.e. the fastening element is by both endsremovably attachable to the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe viathe lock assembly of the shoe.

For example, a portion of the lock assembly associated with the anteriorpart of the shoe may be constituted by the lace itself, i.e. thefastening element by its first end can be tied to the lace. The otherportion of the lock assembly is located (fixed or configured forattachment/fixation) at the posterior part of the shoe and is engageablewith the second end of the fastening element. In other words, theportion of the lock assembly associated with the shoe region at theposterior part thereof may be an integral part of the shoe or may beconfigured for integration/engagement with the shoe.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 exemplifying a laced shoe 10 having a lace14 on an anterior part 12A of the shoe body, and being further providedwith a lock assembly 40 for engagement with a fastener 16. In thisexample, the fastener 16 includes a pair of the fastening elements 19,associated with (extendable along) two opposite sides of the shoe body.As indicated above, each fastening element is configured as anextendable connector, i.e. having at least a portion thereof which isextendable. In the specific but non-limiting example of FIG. 2 suchfastener is in the form of/has a portion in the form of an elasticclosed loop. Each fastening element 19 is by its one end 19B (at onesegment 19B of the loop) connectable (tied) to the lace 14 and isextendable such that its other opposite end 19A (segment of the loop) isattachable to a lock element 40B configured as a hook-like element ofthe lock assembly 40 located in the vicinity of a heel portion(posterior part 12B) of the shoe 10. Thus, in this example the segmentof the closed-loop fastening element acts as a lock element 40Aassociated with the fastening element to engage with the lock element40B of the lock assembly 40 of the shoe.

Thus, the lock assembly 40 may include first and second engageablelocking elements 40B and 40A located at, respectively, theposterior-part region of the shoe and the fastening element 19. Itshould be understood that, generally, the shoe may carry several lockingelements 40B arranged at different locations of the posterior-partregion of the shoe, and an individual (wearer) chooses that/those ofthem which are most suitable to properly fit the shoe.

In the example of FIG. 2, the first locking element 40A is constitutedby the fastener 16 itself, while the second locking element 40B isconfigured as the hook like unit located on the posterior part of theshoe. As shown in the figure, the two fastening elements 19 areassociated with two opposite side-regions of the posterior part of theshoe and attachable to the two locking elements 40A, respectively, attwo regions of the posterior part of the shoe.

To this end, it should be understood the “engageable portions” of thelock assembly are first and second potions located at, respectively, theposterior-part region(s) of the shoe 10 and the fastening element(s) ofthe fastener. The attachment and detachment of the fastening element(s)to the locking element(s) on the shoe correspond to the locked andunlocked states of the lock assembly.

The locking elements of the lock assembly may be of any known suitableconfiguration. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate in a self-explanatory manner someexamples of the locking assemblies suitable to be used in the presentinvention. All these examples relate to a general hook-and-loop typeassembly, in which the first and second locking elements are removableengageable with one another. In the example of FIG. 3B, suchhook-and-loop type assembly utilize a Velcro fastener; in the example ofFIG. 3C this is in the form of a knob-type assembly; and in FIG. 3D thelocking assembly is generally as that of FIG. 2 utilizing aloop-and-hook arrangement.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the fastener 16 is in theform of a single element 19 that is provided separately from the shoe.In this connection, reference is made to FIG. 4. The figure shows alaced shoe 10 and a fastener 16 having a fastening element 19 configuredas an extendable connector which is attachable by its opposite ends 19Aand 19B to a lace 14 at an anterior part 12A of the shoe whileencircling the shoe body around a posterior part 12B of the shoe. Inthis manner, when the shoe 10 is worn by an individual, the fastener isin a desirably extended and attached state thereof, and properly fitsthe shoe 10 to individual's foot.

Generally, there may be no lock assembly on the shoe. However,practically, in order to avoid a situation that the fastener moves upwhen in use with a low-heel shoe, the shoe may be provided with a lockassembly 40. Such lock assembly 40 has at least one holding/supportingelement 50 fixed to the shoe 10 in at least one region of the posteriorpart 12B of the shoe. In this specific not limiting example of FIG. 4, asingle holding element is shown, but it should be understood that thelocking assembly may include an array of at least two such holdingelements arranged in a spaced-apart relationship along the posteriorpart of the shoe. The holding element 50 is configured to engage withthe fastening element 19 in at least one region thereof and forsupporting the fastening element 19 at an extended and attached statethereof, namely for preventing the fastening element 19 fromstirring/deviating downwards or upwards at the heel portion of theposterior part 12B of the shoe 10. For example, the holding element 50is configured as a hook or loop allowing the fastening element 19 topass through the holding element when encircling the shoe. It should beunderstood that the fastening element 19 may be fixed to or integralwith the anterior part 12A of the shoe 10 by its one end, and afterpassing through the loop/hook 50, be attached by its other end to theanterior part 12A of the shoe.

In the above examples, the part of the lock assembly 40 associated withthe show is a part of/integral with the shoe. It should, however, benoted that in some other embodiments, the entire lock assembly or atleast the shoe-related part thereof may be a separate element/structureconfigured for attachment to respective region(s) on the posterior partof the shoe. Turning back to the example of FIG. 2, both the lockelements 40A and 40B or either one of them may be configured as aseparate elements capable of attachment to the shoe/lace. For example,the lock 40B may be configured as a knob structure, e.g. that of FIG.3D.

It should be noted that a pair of laced shoes can be supplied with oneor more fasteners. Such a kit 50 including a pair of laced shoes 10 anda set of fasteners and locks is exemplified in FIG. 5. In this example,the shoes are formed with a lock 40B, and the fasteners 19 and locks 40Aare separate elements configured such that locks 40A can easily beattached to the lace and the fastener by its opposite ends 19A and 19Bis connectable to, respectively the lock elements 40A and 40B. Thefasteners in the set may be of different colors, and the kit maypossibly also include a set of laces of different colors.

Generally, the shoes are formed with lock assemblies of any knownsuitable type, e.g. those described above to provide desired engagementwith the fastener. Such lock assembly may be in the form of holdingelement(s) or first and second locking elements associated with matchingto/engageable with corresponding locking elements at the fasteners.

In yet another example, although not specifically illustrated, a kit maybe include one or more fasteners and one or more pairs of laces providedseparately from shoes to be used with/applied to any pair of shoes.Turning back to the example of FIG. 4, the fastener(s) 16 and pairs oflaces 14 may be separately supplied and used, for example, with shoes ofthe type having a decorative loop-like element at the heel part thereof,which is often the case with modern shoes.

1. A laced shoe comprising a fastener comprising at least one fasteningelement, configured as an extendable connector which is by its oppositeends attachable to regions of the shoe at, respectively, anterior andposterior parts of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by anindividual, said at least one fastening element in desirably extendedand attached state thereof properly fits the shoe to individual's foot.2. The laced shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one fasteningelement is by its one end fixed to either one of the anterior andposterior parts of the shoe, and by its opposite free end is removablyattachable to a region in a vicinity of the other of said anterior andposterior parts of the shoe.
 3. The laced shoe of claim 2, wherein saidfastener has one of the following configurations: (a) said at least onefastening element is by its one end fixed to or integral with the laceat the anterior part of the shoe and by the other opposite end isattachable to the region in the vicinity of the posterior part of theshoe; and (b) said fastener comprises a pair of the fastening elements,both configured as the extendable connectors, each being by its one endfixed to either one of the anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, andby its opposite free end being removably attachable to the respectiveregion in the vicinity of the other of said anterior and posterior partsof the shoe.
 4. The laced shoe of claim 2, wherein said fastenercomprises a pair of the fastening elements, each of the fasteningelements being by its one end fixed to the lace and by the otheropposite end being attachable to the respective region in the vicinityof the posterior part of the shoe.
 5. The laced shoe of claim 1, whereinthe fastening element is a stretchable element thereby forming saidextendable connector.
 6. The laced shoe of claim 5, wherein thefastening element is configured as a closed loop stretchable element. 7.The laced shoe of claim 1, comprising at least one lock assemblyassociated with the at least one fastening element, respectively, saidlock assembly comprising first and second engageable portions locatedat, respectively, the region of the shoe and the fastening element. 8.The laced shoe of claim 7, wherein the lock assembly has one of thefollowing configurations: (a) the first and second parts of the lockassembly comprise a hook and a loop removably engageable with oneanother; (b) the first and second parts of the lock assembly comprise,respectively, first and second parts of a knob removably engageable withone another; (c) the first and second parts of the lock assemblycomprise, respectively, a fixed element configured as a substantiallyloop-like element fixed to the shoe and a Velcro portion at said freeend of the fastener; (d) the first and second parts of the lock assemblyare configured as a hook-and-loop Velcro type assembly.
 9. The lacedshoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one region is located at eitherone of the following: (i) is located at the posterior part of the shoeat a heel portion thereof; and (ii) is located in, respectively, atleast one side portion of the shoe closer to the posterior part of theshoe.
 10. A laced shoe comprising a fastener configured as an extendableconnector which is attachable by its opposite ends to a lace at ananterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posteriorpart of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, saidfastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properlyfits the shoe to individual's foot.
 11. The laced shoe of claim 10,further comprising a holding element fixed to the shoe at the posteriorpart of the shoe and configured for engaging with and supporting thefastening element when in the extended and attached state of thefastening elements encircling the shoe around the posterior part of theshoe.
 12. The laced shoe of claim 11, wherein the holding element isconfigured as a hook or loop allowing the fastening element to passthrough said holding element when encircling the shoe.
 13. A laced shoecomprising a fastener having a pair of fastening elements, each of thefastening element being configured as an extendable connector which isby its one end fixed to a lace at an anterior part of the shoe and hasits opposite free end, the free ends of the fastening elements of thepair comprising, respectively, first and second parts of an engageableassembly, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, thefastening elements are brought to their extended states while extendingalong opposite sides of the shoe towards a posterior part of the shoe toenable engagement of the first and second parts of the engageableassembly, thereof properly fitting the shoe to individual's foot. 14.The laced shoe of claim 13, wherein the engageable assembly has one ofthe following configurations: (i) has the first and second parts of aclip; (ii) has the first and second parts of a knob; (iii) has the firstand second parts of a hook-and-loop assembly.
 15. The laced shoe ofclaim 13 or 14, further comprising a pair of fixed elements fixed to theshoe at opposite side portions thereof and configured for supporting thefastening elements, respectively when in the extended states of thefastening elements.
 16. The laced shoe of claim 15, wherein each of thefixed elements is configured as a hook or loop allowing the respectivefastening element to pass through said holding element when in theextended state thereof.
 17. A fastener for use with a laced shoe, thefastener comprising at least one fastening element, the fasteningelement being configured as a stretchable element which is by itsopposite ends removably attachable to regions of the shoe at,respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, such that whenthe shoe is worn by an individual, said at least one fastening elementin desirably extended and attached state thereof properly fits the shoeto individual's foot.
 18. The fastener of claim 17, comprising a pair ofthe fastening elements, each being configured as the stretchable elementwhich is by its opposite ends removably attachable to regions of theshoe at, respectively, anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, suchthat the fastening elements in the stretched states extend alongopposite side portions of the shoe towards respective regions in avicinity of the posterior parts of the shoe.
 19. The fastener of claim17, wherein the fastening element has one of the followingconfigurations: (1) the fastening element is configured as a closed loopstretchable element; (2) the fastening element comprises first andsecond lock elements at opposite ends of the fastening element,respectively, each of said first and second lock elements beingconfigured for engaging with first and second locks located at regionson anterior and posterior parts of the shoe, respectively for removablyengaging with said first and second locks.
 20. The fastener of claim 17,wherein the fastening element comprises first and second lock elementsat opposite ends of the fastening element, respectively, each of saidfirst and second lock elements being configured for engaging with firstand second locks located at regions on anterior and posterior parts ofthe shoe, respectively for removably engaging with said first and secondlocks, each of the first and second locking elements has one of thefollowing configurations: (1) comprises a hook for engaging with a looplock at the shoe; (2) comprises a loop for engaging with a hook lock atthe shoe; (3) comprises a first part of a knob like locking assembly forengaging with the lock at the shoe being configured as a second part ofthe knob assembly; (4) comprises a Velcro portion for self-closingaround a loop lock at the shoe, forming together a hook-and-loop Velcrotype assembly; (5) comprises a Velcro portion for engagement with amatching Velcro lock on the shoe.
 21. A fastener for use with a shoe,the fastener being configured as an extendable connector which isconfigured with first and second lock elements at its opposite ends forremovably engaging with first and second locks, respectively at ananterior part of the shoe while encircling the shoe around a posteriorpart of the shoe, such that when the shoe is worn by an individual, saidfastener in a desirably extended and attached state thereof properlyfits the shoe to individual's foot.
 22. A kit comprising a laced shoeand one or more fasteners, wherein the laced shoe comprises at leastfirst and second locks located at either one or both of anterior orposterior parts of the shoe, the fastener being configured as thefastener of any one of claims 17 to 21, and comprising first and secondlock elements configured for removable engagement with the first andsecond locks respectively.
 23. A kit for use with laced shoes, the kitcomprising: one or more fasteners, each configured as the fastener ofany one of claims 17 to 21; one or more pairs of laces for tying througheyelets at an anterior part of the shoe; and one or more lock assembliesfor attaching the fasteners to the lace and the shoe at one or moreregions within a posterior part of the shoe.